Public Heroes, Private Felons

Jeff Benedict thoroughly investigates for the first time athletes' abusive behavior, delving into the full spectrum of complex factors that give rise to and perpetuate the disturbing pattern of frequent sexual and domestic violence toward women. And, opposing the public stance of sports organizations, he offers compelling evidence that male athletes commit more crimes against women than do their peers. Benedict provides an in-depth examination of several incidents of rape, gang rape, and assault by successful sports figures, including the cases of Mike Tyson, Lawrence Phillips and other members of the University of Nebraska football team, former Boston Celtic Marcus Webb, and Warren Moon. Benedict's probe confronts such controversial issues as race, class, the groupie phenomenon, the sexually permissive lifestyle of many athletes, the consensual sex defense, and the sports industry's indifference to recruiting or drafting talented athletes with criminal records.